England shade first test

from Scrumqueens.com:

A strong final half hour helped by a dominant scrum was enough to see England win an attritional first test at Esher 16-13, writes Ali Donnelly.

England were behind 3-13 before mounting an excellent comeback with a try from Sarah Hunter and extras from Emily Scarratt seeing them home in a fine second half showing.

Alice Richardson’s switch to fly-half in the last half hour was also influential as she played a key role in the late scores.

A hugely competitive first half saw New Zealand lead 8-3 at the turnaround as the visitors had the better of the opening 40 minutes.

It took almost half an hour for the first score of the match as both sides cancelled each other out with some strong rear-guard action.

It was England who shaded the chances in that early period, despite enjoying less possession, as the home side looked to use Emily Scarratt through the middle on some powerful running lines.

Losing Danielle Waterman in the opening five minutes was a blow with England forced to bring on Jo Watmore, winning just her second cap.

England had the first chance when Heather Fisher’s pass put Kat Merchant into space and her break forced a last ditch tackle from the fiesty Selicia WIniata. It was Merchant again who had the crowd on their feet on the 20 minute mark with another brilliant break, this time from one 22 to the other and Winiata was needed again to halt the attack.

England were growing in confidence as their scrum continued to dominate and Katy McLean gave them a 3-0 head just before the half hour mark.

But New Zealand hit right back just four minutes later with a very well taken score.

Using centre Kelly Brazier well as a battering ram through the middle, they won a penalty and Emma Jenson punted the ball into touch. England actually stole the ball just ten metres out from their own line, but Casey Robertson’s brilliant charge-down on McLean’s clearance saw the ball fly loose and the number 8 dived over in the corner to make it 5-3.

The Black Ferns came to life has they hassled and harried England’s every breakdown and winning a penalty at the scrum just metres out, Brazier put them 3-8 ahead with a fine kick on 35 minutes. Fly-half Kendra Cocksedge was also finding more space for her backs as the half came to a close and her side ended first 40 with the advantage.

Just a minute into the second half New Zealand grabbed their second try and it was Cocksedge who capitalised.

England attempted to run it out of their 22 and a poor pass to Watmore saw her turned over. Cocksedge raced over out wide for an easy try and a good finish as New Zealand took a 13-3.

England replied by pressing hard through the hard-working Marlie Packer and Scarratt, and McLean had a chance immediately to reduce the arrears but missed with a relatively straightforward effort.

England were dealt another blow when Georgina Gulliver, who had come on for Hunt, was forced off. The change meant McLean had to move to scrumhalf with Richardson to 10.

Richardson immediately put Staniford and then Alex Matthews into huge holes as England pressed again. Their dominant scrum then brought them right back into the match with a brilliant shove seeing Sarah Hunter crash over for a try. McLean missed an easy kick and it stayed 8-13 but England were getting on top with Fisher gaining more and more prominence at the breakdown.

With Lydia Crossman sin-binned, Scarratt had a shot at goal which she nailed.

Richardson’s impact at 10 was felt again when her quick passing helped Merchant away on another break as the momentum swung firmly England’s way. Merchant, who was having a stormer, then made the most of a good pass from Watmore after England’s pack had stolen the ball and she raced over out wide to give her side the lead with a well taken try.

Merchant was then forced off as England were again forced to rejig their backs with Fisher moving to the wing but the shuffle didn’t affect England as tackles from Fisher and Alex Matthews stopped any New Zealand efforts.

New Zealand will be disappointed to have led a 10-point lead slip and recognise that their scrum must improve ahead of Tuesday night but there will be positives from a good first 45  minutes for Brian Evans.

England will hope the injuries to Waterman and Gulliver aren’t serious enough to keeping them out of the next week of action.

New Zealand: Selica Winiat, Halie Hurring, Claire Richardson, Kelly Brazier, Shakira Baker, Kendra Cocksedge, Emma Jensen , Ruth McKay, Fiao’o Faamausili, Kathleen Wilton, Eloise Blackwell, Rawinia Everitt, Aroha Savage, Justine Lavea, Casey Robertson

Replacements:Karina Stowers (for McKay 61), Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox (for Wilton 40) , Aleisha Nelson (for Fox 73), Jackie Patea (for Blackwell 74) Lydia Crossman (Robertson 65), Zoey Berry, Victoria Nafatali (for Cocksedge 61), Hazel Tubic (For Hurring 70)

England: Danielle Waterman, Katherine Merchant, Emily Scarratt, Alice Richardson, Michaela Staniford, Katy McLean (C), Natasha Hunt, Rochelle Clarke. Victoria Fleetwood, Laura Keates, Tamara Taylor, Rowena Burnfield, Heather Fisher, Marlie Packer, Sarah Hunter (VC)

Replacements:Emma Croker (for Fleetwood 55), Rosemarie Crowley (for Clarke 52), Sophie Hemming (for Keates 52), Emily Braund, (for Merchant 73) Alex Matthews (for Gulliver 3)(for Hunt 40), Fran Matthews (for Gulliver 52), Jo Watmore (for Waterman 5m)